Fears that Lorik Cana could be referees target

According to Daily Mail Sunderland boss Steve Bruce said that new captain Lorik Cana will have to be careful to stay out of trouble with Premier League referees.

The Albania international with the flowing locks picked up his third booking of the season in Saturday’s victory over Hull City, falling foul of referee Martin Atkinson for a high challenge.

Although Cana’s performance has immediately won over Sunderland supporters, Bruce is worried that the £5million summer signing from Marseille will need to be careful or spend lengthy periods of his first English season out of the game.

Bruce said: ‘That’s his third yellow card – it is just getting him through the season that will be an issue.

‘To say he is trying to do his best is an understatement. You can see why I have made him captain.

‘He has obviously got to try to curb it, but he is just full of enthusiasm, trying to do the job. Everybody is telling him how tough England is – well, the Albanian captain is there to stand up.

‘He has got a good way about him. We will obviously have to check the yellow cards if we can, but he will be a cult hero here, I am sure of it.’

In positive side Sky Sports have published an article about Cana’s partnership with Sunderland’s midfielder Lee Cattermole.

“Lee has been a big, big help to me in games,” he told the Sunderland Echo.

“When you arrive at a new club you are always looking to strike up partnerships with your team-mates but you never know how things are going to work out.

“For me, I have been lucky to have found someone to play alongside at Sunderland like Lee.”